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geography

Amazon and eBay have reported contrasting sets of results, with Amazon enjoying a 14.5% sales uplift in the three months to June 30, 2009 while eBay's marketplace sector reported a 14.0% decline for the same period. With eBay set to continue shifting its offer away from auctions towards fixed price items, it has to strike a balance between its new strategy and keeping its core smaller businesses.

Published By Datamonitor

Online retailer Amazon has reported that group sales rose 35% to $2.89 billion in the three months to 30 June 2007. This was accompanied by its operating margin more than doubling to 4.1%. With the slew of heavy investment now firmly behind it and a range of initiatives coming into place - including a digital music download platform - the future looks bright for Amazon.

Published By Datamonitor

Giorgio Armani denies he is considering selling his eponymous business. The question of succession comes to any fashion company closely associated with its designer, however at Armani, the creative force, Mr Armani himself, is also the business force. Having built up a global operation worth over E4.0 billion in worldwide retail sales, the question of who will succeed him becomes pressing.

Published By Datamonitor

According to press speculation, Tesco could overtake Carrefour within the next four years to become Europe's largest retailer and second largest globally after the US giant Wal-Mart. This prediction rests on the assumption that Tesco will continue to grow sales faster than Carrefour as its burgeoning international divisions transform the UK retailer into a truly global player.

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Italy's Benetton has formed a strategic alliance with department store chain Sears Roebuck de Mexico as part of its aim to expand the company's presence through new stores and concessions. The deal with Sears Mexico will increase the distribution of the United Colours of Benetton brand in the country, and forms the first step towards expansion in Latin America.

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Following a weak end to 2008, when turnover fell by 9.7%, Bulgari is likely to reveal a net loss for Q1 2009, as the global luxury jewelry market contracts in the wake of current economic turbulence. Moreover, as a general economic recovery seems unlikely, the outlook for 2009 remains bleak.

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Europe's largest grocer, Carrefour, has reported mixed financial results in H1 2010 across its different geographies. Total sales were E43.73 billion, a rise of 6% year-on-year, while net income rose from -E48m in H1 2009 to E67m. However, regional performance, particularly in Latin America, was less impressive, leading the company to take action.

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Europe's largest retailer has reported a lackluster set of third quarter results, but the real shocker was its announcement that it will be leaving Russia, just a few months after opening its first stores there. The unexpected withdrawal comes as a surprise and is a setback for international retail development in the country.

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With a turnover in 2006 of over E87 billion, French supermarket giant Carrefour is currently the second largest retailer in the world in terms of sales, behind Wal-Mart. While only a rumor, there remain a number of reasons why a leading global grocery retailer might be interested in taking it over.

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Carrefour's first half results follow the pattern of recent years, with the retailer struggling in France while generating strong growth abroad. The hypermarkets remain the company's Achilles heel, which the retailer seeks to address with a focus on non-food. Moreover, Carrefour aims to speed up its portfolio optimization strategy and will set up a property vehicle.